Scout arrivals?

[Tim Stover]

thought for sure one would show up today south flordia

[Dave Duit]

Hi mayhaw10,
74 degrees sounds like I need to take a vacation down south. It is 29 degrees with sustained 30 mph wind with gusts of 50 here in Iowa. If the martins come up too quick to Iowa and cold weather i will need to make a lot of little martin coats and hats.

[Guest]

Laverne did they show again today???? You are only 30 -35 miles south of me.I think I'll raise a rack in the morning and open 2 or 3 entrances just in case.It is awfully early tho,glad I shifted gears and got ready.


dick

[Seller]

Hi mayhaw10,
74 degrees sounds like I need to take a vacation down south. It is 29 degrees with sustained 30 mph wind with gusts of 50 here in Iowa. If the martins come up too quick to Iowa and cold weather i will need to make a lot of little martin coats and hats.

Dave, I was watching the Decorah Eagle Cam earlier and that tree was swaying at least a foot or two in either direction...Serious wind you guys are getting up there!

[mayhaw10]

Hello Again Dave, Well 29 degrees is a disaster here in South Ga.
Today New Years Day my wife and I rode about 300 miles on our
Motorcycle and Temp Got over 72 degrees, Had a great ride looking
all around at Martin Sites and did not see anything Flying around
near them. Martins are just not here as of today. We must have looked
at 40 or 50 sites from the road and did not see any flying. We will just
have to wait a while. Wont be long though, Our red clover is trying to
Bloom. Seems like a short Winter here. Keep watching the skies.
Mayhaw10

[Laverne]

No, dick, I haven't seen them again. I knew they were not our returning birds because they didn't come down to see us. When our first bird comes back we always get a "glad to be back" fly over. Our siting on New Year's Eve was a "first time that's ever happened" kind of event! We were able to see those birds for 2 or 3 minutes and that was it. It was rare. I don't know what made me look up at that precise moment. It was pure luck. It will probably never happen to me again in my lifetime.

But, on the other hand, our first returning bird has shown up before the end of January for the last three years in a row. So, that's still just 3 or 4 weeks -- and they'll be here.

[Dave Duit]

It is interesting to see the migration from our southern states all the way up to Canada. Yep, the eagle camera probably got a good shaking with the wind. I have had over 65 mph wind at my small lake before. That is why I went bonkers and over did the strength of my steel 3X5 230 pound beams cemented in the ground 5 feet deep by 4X4 square hole. Now the beams only move 1/4 inch at the top in 60 mph winds. No worries. I envy all you great martin people in the south.

[eyeamtheman]

Hmmm..... Sure is early to see some yet.....

[Dave Duit]

I see the first adult male scout arrived in Alvin, Texas on December 31st.

[DAKdude]

It's Jan 8th and not a single sighting in Florida. In 2011 we had extreme cold in Central Florida and the first birds were delayed about a week and a half, but even with the two days of cold last week we should have seen some bird around Port Charlotte or Fort Meyers by now. They normally arrive in SW Florida before the New Year and usually just before Christmas. Something is happening (or not happening might be more accurate). I'm sure they will be here sometime soon. I keep double checking every Tree Swallow that flies by just to be sure, but so far only white bellies and green backs.
Keep watching the skies everyone!

[Louise Chambers]

The TX report has been pulled - the reporter never responded to request for more info. So Florida martins need to get a move on, so we can start enjoying reports!

[marshainpuntagorda]

Thanks Louise, maybe your encouragement will bring them on...although, our Scout was late last year 1/23...now all I have to do is keep the Red Bellied Woodpecker from the gourds, he thinks its heaven!

[Louise Chambers]

Marsha, we have been fighting a losing battle with golden-fronted woodpeckers at our weekend colony - they have enjoyed destroying every single SREH entrance, not once, but twice! They are closely related to red-bellies, which don't come this far south.

[eyeamtheman]

The TX report has been pulled - the reporter never responded to request for more info. So Florida martins need to get a move on, so we can start enjoying reports!

I think this was a good idea.

[Ed Pace]

Marsha, I think you may have looked at the sub arrival, it looks like the first adult back was 12/5/11, I think ?

[marshainpuntagorda]

Yes, you are right, my friend, I was just referring to our Scout last year; I know some of the older ones have gone to their great reward, you know your Martins personality year after year; we may have some action in the next few days as a front is approaching and I would swear, the Scouts show up just before nasty weather...so many I have seen show up in fog, rain and cold!

[Ed Pace]

Marsha, sorry that I misread your thread . It is tough to see what some of the bird go through in their returning home. With all the education out there now on supplemental feeding, i`m sure many make it that would not have before. I hope your birds do well and have a great season.
Ed.

[marshainpuntagorda]

No problem Ed, we all are learning as we go; the Martins teach me something new each year! Good luck with your site this year!